Progress requires some sacrifice

So I was sitting in the courthouse the other day when I overheard (okay, maybe eavesdropped on) a conversation between two people, one of whom owns a fairly well-known business downtown. Though I can’t recall the conversation verbatim, it went something like this:
“It’s great that the service road is being built but I’m concerned,” said the business owner. “I’m starting to worry that people who stop in Crowley will begin spending their money there and the downtown area will lose business.”
To begin with, I think it’s way too early to worry about this occurring. Aside from the downtown renovation project that gave the area a tremendous facelift, the Grand Opera House, City Hall (with its Ford and J.D. Miller Museums) and the Rice Theater will draw people as long as the city continues to promote our history.
I have also heard about a few restaurants possibly opening downtown, including one that may have live music, which is a must for any city seeking to attract people with a cultural downtown. area. (A special thank you to Sam and Rebecca Phillips, who have prevented us from starving in this area).
However, for every time I hear about these potential positive things that may develop our downtown area, something happens that may not only slow the process — it may altogether stifle it.
Now, I’m not originally from Crowley. I admit that there may be buildings, structures or other features that I just don’t feel the same sentimentality towards as a person who was born and raised here. However, having been raised in Lafayette I watched certain things that were sentimental to us — the Heymann Memorial Fountain that shot water 50 feet into the air, the downtown department store with the catwalk stretching over Jefferson Street, the Gordon Hotel, the luxurious Westwood Theatre — taken way. Sure, we missed each of these places for a while but I don’t ever recall anyone shedding any tears. And eventually we understood that they are no longer there because of a single word — progress. Twenty-five years ago downtown Lafayette was basically dead. Look where it is today.
Here’s where I may upset some people, most of whom I respect, so I ask that you don’t take this personally.
I can’t help but recall a meeting at the Crowley City Courtroom a few months ago to determine the fate of a downtown feature that had no catwalk and didn’t shoot water into the air. Heck, it wasn’t even a structure.
Perhaps I should back up a bit.
I was covering a city council meeting a while back when it was brought up that Acadia Parish Assessor James “Jimbo” Petitjean had a surplus of money in his office and was willing to use it to ease the parking concerns around the courthouse. An additional 18 parking places would be built — free of charge to the city of Crowley — so that downtown shoppers, courthouse employees and area merchants would have a few more parking places to prevent them from walking a few extra blocks.
There was only one problem. It would have involved tearing up a median just to the east of the courthouse on Hutchinson Avenue. And this just didn’t sit well with some people.
Now, I was in this meeting and I listened to everybody. During the course of this meeting, everybody agreed on the fact that parking around the courthouse needed to be improved. However, it would just be a travesty to tear up what was called “this historic median.”
Almost immediately after the meeting I asked a few people I knew about the historic significance of the median and the best answer I heard was that it was one of the few remaining features from the original design of downtown Crowley. Nobody important has ever died on that spot. It wasn’t the scene of a Civil War battle. If there is something I’m missing that is of great significance please let me know about it and I’ll retract this entire column.
There was actually one business owner (I don’t recall his name) who, one minute, was adamant about the fact that we needed more business in the area. However, the next minute he actually said that he would hate to look out of his window (which apparently faces the median) and see cars.
I’m no expert on economy, but don’t most successful businesses have parking lots full of cars on any given day?
The meeting soon transformed from a “should we keep the median” discussion to a “how do we improve downtown parking without removing the median” brainstorming session.
A parking tower was discussed. It was suggested that some property owners be approached about turning their areas into paid parking lots. The idea of placing parking meters on Parkerson Avenue was also kicked around.
Aside from the fact that I haven’t heard any of these projects discussed since, here’s my problem: Each of the aforementioned projects would cost the Crowley’s residents — and our visitors — money. The 18 parking places where the median presently exists wouldn’t have cost Crowley residents — or our visitors — so much as a penny.
I understand that these 18 spots may not have completely solved all the parking woes facing the city, especially during events such as the Rice Festival. But I have driven around the Court Circle looking for a parking spot. Often, another driver and I will see one open up and drive quickly around the circle competing for it. I’ve yet to run into a situation where it was me going against 17 other cars.
Now, I absolutely love the old houses, the oak trees and buildings like the Opera House that give Crowley it’s unique feel. However, I once took a tour of the city when I first began working here. Our guide pointed out each of these places and several more that were unique to the city and it’s culture. The median on Hutchinson Avenue wasn’t mentioned once as being significant that day. Nor has it been in the eight years since ... until that day in the City Courtroom.
I’ve heard people before complaining that Crowley should be the size of Lafayette. However, when the idea of an establishing the Oil Center here was brought up, there were some who were against it because of the outsiders it would draw.
In short, they weren’t willing to make a sacrifice to see the city grow. And all progress requires some sacrifice.
I submit to you that a median — even a historic one — is a very small sacrifice to make.
Until next week.

Howell Dennis is a native of Lafayette, La. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he graduated in journalism and public relations.